Writing on his official website, the rapper explained that he received an email from a friend of Sam's that explained his condition and was touched by the message so decided to make the trip to Vermont while he was performing a show in the area to say hello:

"The email we received was from one of Sam's friends who explained the situation. Sam is in his junior year in college, and up until last Friday his life was going great. He hadn't been feeling well the last month, and went to the doctor to get some blood tests late last week. The doctors got the results, sat him down, told him he had leukemia and would immediately need to start chemotherapy in order to hopefully beat the disease. Just like that."

He continued: "I've done these types of hospital visits before, and sometimes they can be a little awkward [...] But when I first shook Sam's hand I could tell he was connected. He's the type of kid that immediately puts the room at ease. He makes eye contact and speaks from his heart, not sugarcoating what he's going through, but not feeling sorry for himself either."

Macklemore confessed that he got a lot out of the meeting because it made him take a step back and really appreciate his own life: "These types of experiences are important for me. They bring me back to a place of gratitude and give life a tangible value, beyond the instant gratification that my job provides. Being a rapper is one of the most narcissistic careers in the world... Fame suffocates the spirit and consumes you if you let it. You wake up thinking about you, and go to bed thinking about you."

"With over 200 shows booked for the year, I barely get to see my family and spend time with the people that remind me where I come from and what's really important... In all honesty, it's the Sams of the world and the situations they go through that give us perspective on our own lives."

Both attended the recent Golden Globes ceremony and comedienne Tina Fey, who was giving out an award at the time, joked that Swift should keep away from Fox's 23-year-old son Sam.

The 'Red' star has something of a reputation for penning songs about failed relationships and she is reported to have split from recent partner Harry Styles.

Speaking to Vulture, actor Fox blasted Swift's choice of lyrics, suggesting that he doesn't want his son anywhere near the singer. He said:

"I don't keep up with it at all. Taylor Swift writes songs about everybody she goes out with, right? What a way to build a career."

He added, however: "[If the song was] 'Sam, You Piece of S**t'...[I'd go] 'Oh that was the girl you brought home!'."

The American Idol finalist recently spoke out about the difficulties of being openly gay in the music industry, and the Australian singer told Digital Spy that he can see where he’s coming from.

When asked whether the general public are still resistant to gay pop stars, he replied: "I think so, I although have no idea why that's the case. Maybe it's because the girls make gay music better than the guys.

“There's also a reverse sexism thing going on, where women can exploit themselves as much as they like to sell music, but the minute a male artist crosses the line it's sneered at. Not that I want to come out with a song called 'Cake' and start slapping my VJ, but I'd like to see the reaction!" 

The ‘Black & Gold’ hit-maker, who co-wrote two tracks on Lambert’s sophomore, ‘Trespassing,’ also said he hopes the UK takes to the album in the same way the US has:

"I love his new album - it's a great pop album. I'm so pleased it's topped the charts in America, and I hope it connects with the UK because he deserves it. His fanbase is crazy."

“Slabs of atmospheric, face-smashing density pulverise into the back of a Hayley Mary vocal that doses up Florence Welch immensity with an infectious strain of the Siouxsie Sioux virus.  A powerful debut with huge promise.” CLASSIC ROCK

“The Jezabels are taking all the theatrical swoon and emotional abandon you could possibly imagine and packing it into one sweeping, stern punch of excellence.” THE FLY

“Unexpectedly inventive… cinematic swoops and jolts of bright electric piano are topped with a cherry in the form of singer Hayley Mary” The Guardian

“Big, powerful and dark… The band fashion a big, open landscape of sound that is impressive in its sonic grandeur. No, this isn’t a musical Lake District but a high-watt debut that brims with melancholy romance.” GUITARIST 4/5

“With each soaring, emotive note… The Jezabels’ vocalist commands the stage with an easy authority. No wonder they have the confidence to play by their own rules” THE INDEPENDENT

“This is a band on the cusp of greatness. Hayley Mary’s incredible soaring voice is mesmeric…” MUSIC WEEK

"It is clear they are outgrowing their beginnings to become a band that matters... that set off fireworks in your stomach" NME

“Their debut drips confidence… set against brooding, stadium rock riffs” Q Magazine

“A powerful front woman and a genre evading sound… Wonderfully eclectic” THE SUN

“Classic new wave from these great Australians” SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE

“Thunderingly emotional” THE TIMES Critic’s Choice

Now armed with a UK press rap sheet longer than your arm and an attitude that defies convention, Australian four-piece and winners of the 2012 Australian Music Prize The Jezabels have not only conquered their home land but 2012 sees them casting their own brand of highly charged rock, like a malevolent storm, across the oceans and into the UK.

In just 3 short months the band have played to 2300 people at their two sold-out London headline shows and on the day their critically acclaimed album Prisoner was released in the UK, they announced their biggest London headline show to date, at the 1500 capacity Brixton Electric on Thursday 17th May 2012

Following up from the album release (which went straight into the Aussie charts at no.2) The Jezabels will be releasing album track CITY GIRL on Monday 14TH MAY.  From the opening bars CITY GIRL bears all the hallmarks of The Jezabels’ sound: it’s a widescreen epic with guitarist Sam Lockwood’s expansive FM radio riffery, coupled with drummer Nik Kaloper’s thundering drums and Heather Shannon’s chiming layered keys all poised behind singer Hayley Mary’s now distinctive and remarkable vocals.

Catch The Jezabels live in the UK during May, more UK shows and festival dates to be announced:

The Jezabels Live in the UK May 2012

Thursday 17th May - London - Brixton Electric

Friday 18th May - Liverpool - Zanzibar

Saturday 19th May - Dublin - Button Factory